Stereochemistry of isoplagiochin C, a macrocyclic bisbibenzyl from liverworts

Cyclic bisbibenzyls, like isoplagiochins C (1) and D (2), are stereochemically intriguing molecules: Although not equipped with any of the traditional stereogenic elements that render molecules conformationally stable per se, they are sometimes isolated in an optically active form and are thus chiral at room temperature. The paper describes quantum chemical calculations, in particular investigations of the conformational space and molecular dynamics simulations, showing that the helicity is a property of the entire molecule, whose ring strain makes the molecule configurationally stable overall, with (formally) three stereogenic elements (two biaryl axes and one helical stilbene unit). Only one of the biaryl axes (the 'upper' one, joining C-12' and C-14) has a stable configuration, leading to a population of four interconverting diastereomers, yet without racemization at room temperature. On the basis of these conformational and dynamic calculations, the circular dichroism spectrum of isoplagiochin C (1) was calculated, leading to the first assignment of the absolute configuration of a cyclic bisbibenzyl. Accordingly, 1 has the P-configuration at the stereochemically stable biaryl axis and constitutes a mixture of diastereomers with respect to the other biaryl axis and the helical stilbene unit. From the temperature dependence of the racemization rates, an enantiomerization barrier of 101.6 kJ/mol was determined. Likewise, for the first time for cyclic bisbibenzyls, the enantiomeric ratio of this natural product was determined, by chromatography on a chiral phase with CD-coupling. Accordingly, 1 from Plagiochila deflexa is not enantiomerically pure, but occurs in a 85:15 ratio in favor of the enantiomer that has the P-configuration at the stereochemically stable axis.     

Orientational aspect of transient absorption in solutions

In picosecond spectroscopy transient absorption methods are utilized to measure ground-state repopulation kinetics. Since linearly polarized light pulses from mode-locked lasers are used, the transient absorption characteristics in solutions are governed by the rotational diffusion of the absorbing molecules, too. The theory for isotropic diffusion is given and compared to a measurement on the rhodamine 6G molecule dissolved in solvents of different viscosity using a novel pulse spectrophotometer.     

The absolute configuration of peroxisomicines A1 and A2

Peroxisomicine A1 is a potentially antineoplastic compound isolated from the seeds of Karwinskia parvifolia. It is considered as a useful chemotype for the preparation of topoisomerase II targeted anticancer cells. Stereochemically, it is characterized by the presence of two stereocenters and a rotationally hindered and thus likewise stereogenic biaryl axis. In this contribution, the absolute configuration of peroxisomicine A1 and its epimer, peroxisomicine A2, was established by means of a five-step degradative procedure giving the respective R- and S-configured methyl 2-(2′-methyl-5′-oxotetrahydrofuryl)acetates. The configuration of the degradation product was obtained by means of optical rotation, ¹H NMR analysis using a chiral displacement reagent, and by experimental and quantum chemical circular dichroism (CD) investigations. Based on the results obtained here and considering our previous work on the relative configuration at centers versus axis of these compounds, peroxisomicine A1 resulted to be the P,3S,3′S-isomer and peroxisomicine A2 the P,3R,3′S-isomer.     

Synthese und Kristallstruktur von [Ba(18-Krone-6)(DMF)4][Cd(Se4)2]

Synthesis and Crystal Structure of [Ba(18-Crown-6)(DMF)₄][Cd(Se₄)₂] The title compound has been prepared by the reaction of a DMF-solution of lithium polyselenide with BaSe₂ and cadmium acetate in the presence of 18-crown-6, forming black crystals. The compound was characterized by IR spectroscopy and by an X-ray structure determination. Space group P2/a, Z = 4, 5392 observed unique reflections, R = 0.048. Lattice dimensions at ?90°C: a = 2021.9(12); b = 1019.8(6); c= 2270.8(14)pm, ß = 106.98(4)°. The structure consists of [Ba(18-crown-6)(DMF)₄]²⁺ ions, in which the barium ions are coordinated by the six oxygen atoms of the crown ether molecule and by four oxygen atoms of the DMF molecules, and of [Cd(Se₄)₂]^2? ions. The cadmium atoms are coordinated by two tetraselenide ions in a chelating fashion.     

Continuous flow hydroformylation of alkenes in supercritical fluid-ionic liquid biphasic systems

A process for the hydroformylation of relatively low volatility alkenes (demonstrated for 1-dodecene) in a continuous flow system is described. The catalyst is dissolved in an ionic liquid while the substrate and gaseous reagents are transported into the reactor dissolved in supercritical CO(2), which simultaneously acts as a transport vector for aldehyde products. Decompression of the fluid mixture downstream yields products which are free of both reaction solvent and catalyst. The use of rhodium complexes of triaryl phosphites leads to ligand degradation through reaction of the ionic liquid with water and subsequent attack of the released HF on the phosphite. Sodium salts of sulfonated phosphines are insufficiently soluble in the ionic liquids to obtain acceptable rates, but replacing the sodium by a cation similar to that derived from the ionic liquid, allows good solubility and activity to be obtained. The nature of the ionic liquid is very important in achieving high rates, with 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)amides giving the best activity if the alkyl chain is at least C(8). Catalyst turnover frequencies as high as 500 h(-1) have been observed, with the better rates at higher substrate flow rates. Rhodium leaching into the product stream can be as low as 0.012 ppm, except at low partial pressures of CO/H(2), when it is significantly higher. Oxygen impurities in the CO(2) feed can lead to oxidation of the phosphine giving higher rates, lower selectivities to the linear aldehyde, increased alkene isomerization and greater leaching of rhodium. However, it is found that under certain process conditions, the supercritical fluid-ionic liquid (SCF-IL) system can be operated continuously for several weeks without any visible sign of catalyst degradation. Comparisons with commercial hydroformylation processes are provided.     

Adsorption voltammetric techniques for the determination of uranium(VI) with 2,5-dichloro-3,6-dihydroxy-1,4-benzoquinone as complex forming reagent

Uranium (VI) can be determined by adsorptive voltammetric techniques, as its chloranilic acid complex, over a wide concentration range. Differential pulse polarography is useful for quantification of uranium between 0.1 and 1.5 mg/l; for the range from 10 to 500 g/l differential pulse voltammetry and for ultra-trace analysis between 0.024 and 40 g/l adsorptive stripping voltammetry are preferred. The standard deviation for the 3-detection limit of 24 ng/l uranium was found to be 8%. In the trace analysis of metals in aquatic environmental systems by adsorptive stripping voltammetry it is normally necessary to decompose polluted water samples by UV irradiation or microwave digestion. The advantage of the developed method is the fact that no sample pretreatment is necessary.Dedicated to Professor R. Geyer on the occasion of his 80th birthday     

Difference posets,effects, and quantum measurements

Difference posets as generalizations of quantum logics, orthoalgebras, and effects are studied. Observables and measures generalizing normalized POV-measures and generalized measures on sets of effects are introduced. Characterization of orthomodularity of subsets of a difference poset in terms of triangle closedness and regularity of these subsets enables us to characterize observables with a Boolean range. Boolean powers of difference posets are investigated; they have similar properties to that of tensor products, and their connection with quantum measurements is studied.     

Molecular Mechanics Investigation of Gadolinium(III) Complexes

Parameters for the commercially available modeling package SYBYL have been developed for Gd(3+) complexes allowing these to be studied with molecular mechanics. With these parameters and a technique termed the "coordination scan", the coordination numbers of Gd(III) based complexes can be predicted, and thus the hydration number q determined. Knowledge of q has allowed the prediction of molar relaxivities based on correlations to literature values. In addition, the calculated value DeltaE(coord) was found to successfully predict the thermodynamic stability constants for polyamino carboxylate ligands with Gd(3+). Gadolinium complexes are commonly utilized as MRI contrast agents, and thus the techniques utilized in this work should aid in the development of new contrast agents.     

Synthese und Charakterisierung von Pr2InF und [K(15-Krone-5)2][Pr2InCl2]. Die Kristallstrukturen von [Pr2InCl] ∞ und [K(15-Krone-5)2][Pr2InCl2] Bernhard Neumüller

The reaction of ⁱPr₂InCl (1) with KF and 15-crown-5 in acetonitrile at room temperature leads to the toluene-soluble crown ether salt [K(15-crown-5)₂][ⁱPr₂InCl₂] (2) and to the MeCN-soluble diorganoindium fluoride ⁱPr₂InF (3). Pure 3 can be isolated, when the reaction is carried out with KF but without crown ether at −15°C. Crystals of 1 und 2, suitable for X-ray structure determinations, were obtained when 1 and 2 were recrystallized from toluene. 1 exists as infinite chains of the monomeric unit ⁱPr₂InCl, while the unit cell of 2 contains separate ions.